# NTSB SEA98LA174: Cessna 180J, N52130, Oroville, WA, September 5, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 5, 1998, 13:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: Oroville, WA
- Coordinates: 48.869289, -119.219863 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.8693&lon=-119.2199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 43901
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA174
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43901/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA174

## Probable cause

The pilot-in-command's failure to establish and maintain proper alignment.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing
  - proper alignment - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot-in-command reported that 'he was landing south on the lake and that the crosswind conditions were not strong. Upon landing the left wing contacted the water and the aircraft spun around and then overturned.' The pilot also confirmed no aircraft component malfunction or failure during the event.

## Factual narrative

On September 5, 1998, approximately 1320 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180J floatplane, N52130, registered to Eugenia Burke, and being operated/flown by a private pilot, incurred substantial damage when the pilot dragged the left wingtip and float while landing on Oysoyoos Lake, Oroville, Washington. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from the accident site approximately 10 minutes earlier.

The pilot reported to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration's Spokane Flight Standards District that "he was landing south on the lake and that the crosswind conditions were not strong. Upon landing the left wing contacted the water and the aircraft spun around and then overturned. Both pilot and passenger exited without injuries." The pilot also confirmed no aircraft component malfunction or failure during the event.

The pilot reported on his submitted NTSB form 6120.1/2 that he was:

"1. Coming in for landing on glassy, smooth water." "2. Too much nose down." "3. Left float and left wingtip hit water." "4. Plane spun around and flipped over."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52130](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52130), registered now, S/N 18052512, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 180J
- Registry model: [Cessna 180J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180j) (registry code 2072622) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18052512
- Airframe hours: 2600
- Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Burke, Olaf, A.
- Registered owner: Burke, Eugenia, A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 76; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,800 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: OMK, 30 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19980905022789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980905022789A), Sep 5, 1998: Cessna 180J, Oroville, WA, Substantial damage. During a water landing, the caft wing struck the water. (-23)pilot burke reports that he was landing to the south at Osoyoos lake. There was some crosswind…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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